Chancellor Alistair Darling announced plans to include a tax credit in the 2010 Budget for the UK’s “creative industries”, including the video game industry. TIGA (The UK’s Video Game Trade Association) has been pushing for credits such as these for some time, as other entertainment related industries like film already receive similar credits. TIGA’s Chief Executive, Dr. Richard Wilson, had nothing but positive things to say about the tax breaks. “Games tax relief will increase employment, investment and innovation in the UK video games sector. Over a five-year period it should create or protect 3,550 graduate level jobs, increase or safeguard £457 million in development expenditure and encourage developers to adopt new business models and create new intellectual property.”
The UK Guardian reports that nearly 27,000 people, including more than 9,000 developers, are currently employed in the game industry somewhere throughout the UK and outlying countries. With that many jobs on the line, this announcement has surely encouraged those companies to strive for excellence. The Telegraph included this quote from Paul Mayze, C.E.O. of Monumental: “We have been struggling with an increasingly uneven global playing field. Today’s decision by the Government will go a long way to helping ensure that we can remain competitive in the global market.”
